May 21
Reading:
This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was
the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of
the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in
(according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the
Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to
his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined
forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of
his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant
pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou
conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a
dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance.
When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be
made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the
form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the
28th of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who
drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine
entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the
Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out
of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought
him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner
he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of
him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity
triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First
Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In
324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the
new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330,
naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the
imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome,
the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered
the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he
requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of
Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and
Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he
reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived
sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains
were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the
Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second
Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).
As for his holy mother
Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout
the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the
Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After
this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in
Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem
at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives
whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy
Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was
stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after
her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her
piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age,
according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
He beheld the image of Your Cross in the Heavens and, as Paul, he
too did not receive the call from men. Your Apostle among Kings placed
the care of the Royal City in Your hands. Through the intercessions of
the Theotokos, O only Loving Lord, keep it ever in peace.
Kontakion in the Third Tone
Today, Constantine with his mother Helen present the Cross, the
most precious wood. It shames unbelievers. It is a weapon of faithful
kings against their adversaries. A great sign has come forth for us
which is awesome in battle.
SOURCE:
SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2010(with 2009's link here also and further, 2008's, even 2007!
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